the Drill Hall Emporium's goodies in Country Style magazine!

I have made no secret over the years writing this blog that I love Country Style magazine.  It is truly one of those magazines that make you feel like making yourself a cuppa and settling down to devour the whole issue cover to cover.  The March issue is no exception to this rule, rating up there as one of my all time favourites.

The March issue is based almost entirely on Tasmania, and is named the Tasmanian issue "Island Dreaming".  The decorating pages are filled with Tasmanian only products including pieces from our very own Drill Hall Emporium.  Our orchard ladder looks right at home against this sandstone wall, above.  And our 19th century chaise longue doesn't look too shabby, either.  No actually, it is meant to be shabby.  It suits perfectly!

Tessa Kavanagh, Melbourne stylist with a unbeatable eye, was responsible for putting these decorating pages together.  She sourced and assembled a beautiful mix of Tasmanian art, woollen blankets, wooden spoons and handmade porcelain pieces among other uniquely Tasmanian products.  She showed how much Tasmanian has so much to offer in terms of quality materials, the handmade and the unique.

Another feature in the March issue is the privately owned Satellite Island upon which sits the most stylish beach (or should I say island?) home.  In fact, you can book to stay on the island when the family are based in Melbourne.  The perfect hideaway!  Some of the pieces including the jars, cafe chairs and trestle table, above, were originally bought from our store.  Who else would love to have a seafood lunch on this deck?

And I would really love to read a book at this setting!  Notice the blue striped grain sack cushion?  Mum will be happy to see that the owners have put it to good use...  To see more on Satellite Island visit their website.

If you are planning a visit to Tasmania the March issue also plans out an itinerary starting in Launceston and heading south through the Midlands and on to the Derwent Valley.  You could base most of you holiday on these few pages alone - where to stay, where to eat and what to do.

And most excitingly, Flywheel, our sister store to The Drill Hall Emporium, is featured over two fantastic pages.  The article tells how and why we started Flywheel and shows some pictures around the store, including a shot of Rachel working the c.1915 Arab platen press!

So if you need any more convincing to go buy a copy and put the kettle on, I really cannot help you...

Until next time,

new in store...handwoven hemp linen place mats!!!

 Our resident sewing and creative genius (aka Mum) has been busy covering her kitchen table with antique linens to make these delightful place mats.  They have been made with handwoven hemp grain sack lengths, bought on our last buying trip to Europe.

The stripe detail adds to the rustic French charm, although I think these would also look great in a more formal setting. 

The hemp is grown on small farms in Europe, without pesticides, and is hand spun.  It is then handwoven on narrow looms.  This fabric would date to the first half of the 20th century.

And the best part of all, they are also available with a single red stripe!  This particular roll of hemp linen had a rough unstitched edge which Mum left for further charm...

I love it when you can SEE the texture, the nubby bits along with the fibres of the hemp.  Are they not the loveliest place mats?  Oh so French...

As usual, these are not pictured on our website yet, as loyal blog readers you see things first!  I would be interested to know, how many of my blog readers are also on Instagram?  As I also like to post newly arrived items on our Instagram page, you can find it here.

Until next time,